Question: Is there such a thing as a small walk behind tractor/bobcat

[cabmandone]

Needs a hydraulic dump feature... gotta go big or stay home as they say!

Like this!

[Tidybuoy]

The Yard Max looks like I need one.

Here's my progress so far. I plan to rent a Toro Dingo in a couple of weeks (out of town this weekend). I'm also going to replace the gravel parking strip in the front of my house and that is too much to do manual.

Filled in gravel last night using a home depot bucket (I think a couple hundred scoops).

[RWebb]

I am envious. I have to carry everything down steps (or half steps, then a ramp I dug out) to get in my backyard.

It's about 100 ft. horiz. and 50 ft. vertical.

.. doesn't sound too bad until you do 1.5 tons of crushed rock

[sammyg2]

United rentals in Fresno, Deer loader for $308/day
Don't know 'bout you, but that looks like fun.

https://www.unitedrentals.com/marketplace/equipment/earthmoving-equipment/skid-steers-track-loaders/skid-steer-loader-1700-1899#/

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

United rentals in Fresno, Deer loader for $308/day
Don't know 'bout you, but that looks like fun.

https://www.unitedrentals.com/marketplace/equipment/earthmoving-equipment/skid-steers-track-loaders/skid-steer-loader-1700-1899#/

Looks kinda boring to me...

[sammyg2]

Oh so it's a challenge eh .....

Yer on

[RWebb]

That is not a Deere, and doesn't run like a Deer neither

It EATS Deeres.

[sammyg2]

[RWebb]

yup - they were first and maybe still the best

but you are arguing his side even tho you disagreed with him


Got Deere pics??

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by RWebb

yup - they were first and maybe still the best

but you are arguing his side even tho you disagreed with him


Got Deere pics??

Not arguing with anyone, don't know if there's a difference twixt a bobcat or deere and don't care at all. Looks like the same thing to me with different colors.
Probably just a chevy vs ford thing anyhow.

But the vids are entertaining.

PS aren't deeres supposed to be green?

[RWebb]

a good point - maybe it is a fake deere

or an elk

[sammyg2]

too small to be a moose

[rusnak]

Your first pic made zero sense.

Now I see what you're doing. Rent a Bobcat, or better yet, a small tractor with a box scraper on back and a front end loader. You dig with the loader, and put the dirt somewhere in the yard.
Scraper will spread the rock out smoothly.

But a bigger concern is what do you do with the rain water? You don't have any slope or any drainage channels. All you have is a pit or pond that the gravel will get pounded into when the rain makes the dirt soft.

I would definely slope the area away from the driveway so that you have some drainage, and probably think about just pouring a concrete slab with rebar. Otherwise this looks like you'll be doing it over in a few years. You'll have spots that settle and make potholes.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

too small to be a moose

unless it's a Manchurian dwarf moose...


but I think those are really just elk in drag

[rusnak]

I just read the rest of this thread. I have to say I'm just shaking my head. There have got to be hundreds of better options in Fresno. Probably a dozen neighbors with little tractors in Old Fig alone.

[pavulon]

when those rigs get put on their face for loading/unloading, is engine oil starvation not any concern?

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by pavulon

when those rigs get put on their face for loading/unloading, is engine oil starvation not any concern?

I wouldn't think so. They hold about 2 gallons of oil.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by RWebb

unless it's a Manchurian dwarf moose...


but I think those are really just elk in drag

But they are non-migratory.

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by rusnak

But a bigger concern is what do you do with the rain water? You don't have any slope or any drainage channels. All you have is a pit or pond that the gravel will get pounded into when the rain makes the dirt soft.

I would definely slope the area away from the driveway so that you have some drainage, and probably think about just pouring a concrete slab with rebar. Otherwise this looks like you'll be doing it over in a few years. You'll have spots that settle and make potholes.

It doesn't really show in my photos but there is definitely a slope. Both outer edges are about 3" higher than the center and then the entire area slopes towards the street. It's probably not ideal but for the past 20 years I've had an alley with crumbling asphalt and potholes that were always filled with mud and dirt tracks all the way to my garage. Also, when I bought the treated lumber, I found two that had curves and so I bought those and positioned so that they curve down into the center. I pounded 3/4" round steel stakes thru the lumber and 18" into the ground - they are not ever going to move.

I went with gravel because after paying for my large driveway....I'm running out of money

Even when this "pit" fills with water, it finds it's way out on the end that faces the street and should never reach the top of the gravel - we'll see. Time will tell if I develop potholes as I lined the area with mat that is supposed to keep the gravel from settling into the dirt below. On top of that is a grid that contains the gravel from moving when you drive on it. The manufacturer states that it can support 80,000 lbs which should be good enough for my much smaller vehicles.

Regarding renting equipment - I can only do that on the weekend and the rate it's going, I will be done by Friday. I've been working on it every night and making good progress. I'm at about 60% now. Believe it or not, I have no back ache but my arms are very sore. Been filling the grid using a bucket.

[71T Targa]

Looking great! What are you doing with the space that doesn't have grid down? It looks like a pathway...